VOA慢速英语2020--新冠疫情期间的不同朝觐

Muslim pilgrims², wearing face coverings and moving in small groups, began circling Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

During the hajj, the white floors that surround it usually have hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world. But this year is different. Only a small number of pilgrims — as few as 1,000 — could take part.

Ammar Khaled is a 29-year-old Indian pilgrim¹ who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. He said that although he is alone on the hajj, he is praying for those he loves.

"Words aren't enough to explain how blessed I feel and how amazing the arrangements have been," Khaled said.

Amr Al-Maddah is the chief planning officer at the Ministry³ of Hajj. He said, "We are taking every step possible to make sure that this hajj will end with zero cases of COVID-19 and also with zero deaths in our total hajj numbers."

Before pilgrims could even enter Mecca, they were tested for the virus, required to self-isolate in hotel rooms, and have their temperatures checked. Each pilgrim is in a group with about 20 others. A group leader will guide them throughout the hajj. This will help limit any crowding in places like the Grand Mosque⁴, which houses the Kaaba.

While on Mount⁵ Arafat, where the Prophet⁶ Muhammad is said to have delivered his final sermon⁷ nearly 1,400 years ago, the pilgrims wear identity cards that connect to their phones.

The card stores the pilgrims' personal information, health data, and other hajj-related details. It permits the Saudi government to easily monitor the pilgrims. It also gives pilgrims a way to contact their group leader and make special meal requests.

Pilgrims were also given special clothes to wear during the hajj. The clothes contain silver that helps kill bacteria. They were also provided with prayer rugs, umbrellas, towels, soaps, sanitizers and other necessities.

This year marks the first time in many years that people from outside Saudi Arabia do not take part in the five-day hajj. Al-Maddah said permitting people to enter Saudi Arabia from abroad would have created possible health risks.

This year, two-thirds of pilgrims are foreigners already living in Saudi Arabia. These foreigners come from among the 160 different nationalities that would have normally been on the hajj. The other one-third are Saudi security and medical officials. All have to be between the ages of 20 and 50 and have no serious illnesses.

"For us, safety comes first," al-Maddah said. "We are employing technology to make sure that these services and these precautions are met and delivered in the highest standard."

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

pilgrim – n. someone who travels to a holy place

hajj – n. a journey to Mecca that is a religious duty for Muslims

blessed – adj. having a sacred nature : connected with God; very welcome, pleasant, or appreciated

amazing -- adj. causing great surprise or wonder : causing amazement⁸

arrangement -- n. the way that things or people are organized for a particular purpose or activity : the way that things or people are arranged

monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

sermon – n. a speech about a moral or religious subject that is usually given by a religious leader

foreigner – n. a person who is from a country that is not your own

precaution – n. something that is done to prevent possible harm or trouble from happening in the future

1 pilgrim   

n.香客，朝圣者；v.朝圣，参拜圣地，流浪

参考例句：

• They read stories about the Indians and the pilgrim.他们阅读有关印第安人和那些朝圣者的故事。
• But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you.只有一个人爱你那朝圣者的灵魂。

2 pilgrims   

香客，朝圣者( pilgrim的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca 前往麦加的穆斯林朝圣者
• Many pilgrims knelt piously at the shrine. 许多朝圣者心虔意诚地在神殿跪拜。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

5 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

6 prophet   

n.预言家，先知，提倡者

参考例句：

• A prophet made a prophecy that the kingdom would fall.一位预言家预言那个王国将要灭亡。
• The pity is that you are not a prophet.可惜你不能未卜先知。

7 sermon   

n.布道，讲道，说教，冗长的讲话

参考例句：

• The minister preaches a sermon now and then.牧师不时地讲道。
• Don't preach me a sermon,please.请不要对我讲大道理。

8 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。